Hemp Innovation Challenge Now Accepting Submissions
The Hemp Innovation Challenge (HIC) is back for a second year of collecting innovations daily from hemp innovators around the world. Prizes will be awarded for ideas connected to technology, software, and services driving growth and innovation into food, fuel, medicine, health, fiber, waste, and sustainable development as a few examples.
With NASA’s Perseverance rover exploring Mars, this year’s theme was selected by HIC founders to inspire hemp innovators to think outside of the box. As before, 2021 innovation submissions can be untested ideas or market-proven, hemp-related successes. A link to hemp’s applications beyond earth is not required. They can come from hemp innovators in universities, companies, research institutes, barns, and government agencies.
In only 90 days, last year’s HIC team received submissions from over 65 innovators in 14 countries on 5 continents. Kentucky-based Victory Hemp won the inaugural Hemp Innovation Challenge.
“Participation in the 2020 Hemp Innovation Challenge helped Victory Hemp raise capital, validate current customers, and find new customers,” said Victory Hemp CEO Chad Rosen. “It was a competitive process where we were vetted by industry experts. Our win was real third party validation for us. Our customers are food formulators. They know about plant-based proteins from peas, soy, and chickpeas. The 2020 Hemp Innovation Challenge helped us raise their awareness of the protein, fatty acid, and even sweetness-based benefits of hemp.”
“The HIC is designed to discover, amplify, and celebrate the wide range of hemp innovation from many industries globally” said Mike Reid, co-founder and executive director of the Hemp Innovation Challenge. “We have big plans to accelerate the future of the hemp industry by supporting entrepreneurs, researchers and students who are launching the most disruptive hemp innovations in the world.”
Hemp Innovation Challenge winners will receive strategic feedback about their innovation, business model, and go-to-market strategy.
To stay in touch with the HIC team, connect to leading hemp innovators, and hear details of the upcoming competition, visit www.hempinnovation.space.
